Last year, the members of AFSCME Local 199 wanted to show that their commitment to a stronger Miami-Dade County didn’t stop when the work day ended. That is why they made giving back through community service and charitable contributions a topic of focus at every membership meeting.
Last month, to end the year on a strong note, the giving continued with a $300 contribution to Camillus House. The contribution was doubled thanks to a matching program support by Steve Sanchez of American Income Life Insurance Company.
For more than 50 years, Camillus House, a project of the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God, has served the South Florida community as a homeless shelter, direct care ministry, hospice service provider, a safe place of refuge and a provider of second chances for men and women from all walks of life.
“What began as one or two ideas at the executive board was really embraced at the next membership meeting and from there it has really been embraced as a way to show we care about where we work and live,” said Local 199 member and president Se'Adoreia Brown.
The Local’s contributions last year included donating supplies to help Haiti recover from Hurricane Matthew, donating food to Harvest Drive to help families in need during the Thanksgiving holiday, even making sure the country’s own community programs, such as pet adoption, were included whenever possible.
“We’ve tried to ensure that our giving both helps the community and reflects the work that Local 199 members do every day,” said Brown. “We have seen how the work of Camillus House helps those who have nowhere else to go and gives them the physical and emotional support to keep going.”
Brown said the donation was a fitting way to wrap up the charitable efforts of members this year. As equally important, she said members are already talking about what programs they want to be involved with and support in 2017.
